Household energy management system and method for one or more appliances

Abstract

A household energy management system and method for one or more appliances includes a controller for managing power consumption within a household. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy utility. The controller includes a user interface for receiving energy management input for at least one appliance of the one of more appliances from a user. The controller at least one of controls and operates the at least one appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the input received by the user via the user interface in conjunction with the received signal.

1 . A household energy management system for one or more appliances, comprising:
 a controller for managing power consumption within a household, the controller being configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy utility, the controller including a user interface for receiving energy management input for at least one appliance of the one of more appliances from a user, wherein the controller at least one of controls and operates the at least one appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the input received by the user via the user interface in conjunction with the received signal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy signal has an associated energy cost and the user input is a user selected targeted energy cost, wherein if current energy cost exceeds the user selected cost, the at least one appliance operates in the energy savings mode, and wherein if the current energy cost is less than the user selected cost, the at least one appliance operates in the normal operating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes predefined user profiles, each user profile being associated with a predetermined parameter of energy usage for the at least one appliance, the user selecting one of the predefined user profiles via the user interface, the at least one appliance operating in one of the plurality of operating modes based at least partially on the predefined user profile. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to allow a user to create a unique user profile via the user interface, the unique user profile having a user selected parameter of energy usage for the at least one appliance, the at least one appliance operating in one of the plurality of operating modes based at least partially on the user created profile. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy signal has an associated energy cost and each of the predefined user profiles and the user created profile has an associated energy cost, wherein if current energy cost exceeds the user profile energy cost, the at least one appliance operates in the energy savings mode, and wherein if the current energy cost is less than the user profile energy cost, the at least one appliance operates in the normal operating mode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy signal has an associated energy cost and each of the predefined user profiles and the user created profile addresses varying energy cost preferences ranging from a conservative pricing preference to an aggressive pricing preference, the at least one appliance operating in one of the plurality of operating mode based at least partially on the user selected energy cost preference. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy signal has an associated energy cost and the controller includes a display indicative of at least one of current cost of energy, current cost of operating the at least one appliance and actual load being shed by the at least one appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to record and display at least one of day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year energy usage of the at least one appliance and cost of operating the at least one appliance in at least the energy savings mode and the normal mode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate to the associated energy utility at least one of a confirmation of receipt of the energy signal, the current operating mode of the at least one appliance, the energy management input from the user, current energy usage of the at least one appliance and actual load shed by the at least one appliance in response to the signal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy management input from the user is an allowable maximum energy usage, the controller being configured to balance the energy usage of power consuming features/functions of the at least one appliance to prevent the at least one appliance from exceeding the allowable maximum energy usage. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller allocates energy to the one or more appliances based on at least one of demand limit, a prioritization of each of the one or more appliances, and an energy need level of each of the one or more appliances. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy management input from the user is an allowable maximum energy cost, the controller being configured to balance the energy usage of power consuming features/functions of the at least one appliance to prevent the at least one appliance from exceeding the allowable maximum energy cost. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes predefined operating modes, each predefined operating mode having a maximum energy usage for the at least one appliance, the user selecting one of the predefined operating modes via the user interface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined operating modes includes an away mode and a vacation mode. 
     
     
         15 . A household energy management system for one or more appliances, comprising:
 a controller for managing power consumption of the one or more appliances within a household; and   a user interface operatively connected to the controller for receiving energy management input from a user, the user input being at least one of a delay indication, a cease indication and an override indication;   wherein the controller at least one of controls and operates the one or more appliances in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the input received by the user via the user interface in conjunction with a signal received from an associated energy utility, the signal having a first state indicative of a utility peak demand period and a second state indicative of a utility off-peak demand period,   wherein the controller is configured to communicate to the associated energy utility a current operating mode of the one or more appliances and the energy management input from the user.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate to the associated energy utility energy usage of the one or more appliances and actual load shed by the one or more appliances. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the delay indication delays operation of at least one appliance or a power consuming function/feature thereof during the utility peak demand period until a signal having the second state is received, the cease indication disables at least one appliance or a specific power consuming feature/function thereof upon receipt of a signal having the first state, and the override indication at least partially overrides a signal having the first state to allow operation of at least one appliance or a power consuming feature/function thereof during the utility peak demand period. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the energy management input from the user is one of an allowable maximum energy usage and an allowable maximum energy cost, the controller being configured to balance operation of at least one appliance or a power consuming function/feature thereof to prevent the at least one appliance from exceeding one of the allowable maximum energy usage and the allowable maximum energy cost. 
     
     
         19 . A household energy management system for one or more appliances, comprising:
 a home energy manager having a controller for managing power consumption of one or more appliances within a household, and a user interface for displaying data relating to the one or more appliances and receiving input commands from a user; and   a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage to a household from an associated energy utility, the utility meter communicating to the home energy manager one or more energy parameters of the associated energy utility;   wherein the user interface provides a message to the user prompting an operational mode for each of the one or more appliances in response to the communication from the utility meter, each operational mode having one of an allowable maximum energy usage and an allowable maximum energy cost for the appliance, the home energy manager controls or operates the one or more appliances in response to the communications from the utility meter and the operational modes selected by the user.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the home energy manager allocates energy to the one or more appliances based on at least one of a prioritization of each of the one or more appliances and an energy need level of each of the one or more appliances. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the home energy manager is configured to assign to each appliance of the one or more appliances a unique identification character which allows the controller to segregate a demand response to the one or more appliances.